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Electrical Isolation
Procedure

CONTRACT NO. : POGC-84-801-244

PROJECT: SOUTH PARS GAS FIELD DEVELOPMENT
PHASES 17&18
COMPANY: PARS OIL & GAS COMPANY
SITE: ASSALUYEH, IRAN

0 Issued for Comment OICO R.Akbarzade Y.Jalalat E.Harounian M.Davoodi

REV. DATE DESCRIPTION Originator Prepared Checked Approved Authorized

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Page Rev 0 Rev 1 Rev 2 Page Rev 0 Rev 1 Rev 2

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Table of Content

1. Purpose
2. Scope
3. Responsible Persons
4. Procedures
5. References

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1.0 Purpose
The purpose of this document is to ensure safety at work of personnel and equipment and to
provide details of methods and principles for safe Electrical Isolation of electrical equipment.

2.0 Scope
This document is applicable for the Commissioning and Start-Up periods and is intended for
the use of employees of CONSORTIUM and his subcontractors who may be concerned with
the operation of, or work on High and Medium and Low Voltage Electrical Systems in South
Pars Phases 17 &18

3.0 Responsible Persons

3.1 Commissioning & Start-Up Manager
The Commissioning & Start-Up Manager is responsible for ensuring that isolations are
carried out by Authorized Responsible Persons in accordance with this procedure.

He is responsible to issue the list of Authorized Electrical Persons and update it on a regular
basis.

3.2 Area Authority (Process / Utility / Shift Superintendents) The Area Authorities are
responsible for:

• Ensuring that all procedures and safeguards are fully implemented.

• Facilitating preparatory works in connection with work permits.
• Ensuring that equipment is operational after maintenance works are completed

3.3 Electrical Safety Supervisor

The Electrical Safety Supervisor is responsible for:
• Conducting checks on status of isolations and conformance with this Procedure.
• Providing advice as requested or when required.

3.4 Authorized Electrical Persons

The Authorized Electrical Persons are responsible for:
• Performing electrical isolations as requested on Electrical Isolation Permits /
Certificates and within the limits of their authorization.
• Demonstrating to Operators and Working Party that concerned equipment will not /

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cannot start under any conditions or circumstances.

• Reinstating switching equipment to normal on completion of works.
• Participating in test runs with Operators and Working Party before cancellation of
Permit to Work.

Full details are detailed in the associated Procedure elect safety rules,…… Article 3.1.19.

4.0 Procedures
4.1 General
Requests to electrically isolate equipment, or a package, is made by the Working Party when
first raising the Permit to Work by filling in Box 1 of the Complementary Electrical Isolation
Permit.

In the particular case of generators, a Process / Mechanical Isolation Certificate must also be
raised.

All equipment subject to electrical isolation must be padlocked by using a safety padlock.
The safety padlock number must be mentioned on the Isolation Certificate.

If there are several Permits to Work raised for the same item of equipment to be electrically
isolated, there must be the same number of Isolation Certificates and safety padlocks
applied.

This Procedure is to give guidance to Authorized Electrical Persons in charge of electrical

isolation.

4.2 Electrical Isolation Principles

Electrical Isolation is a preparatory operation to allow a Permit to Work to be issued and to
ensure that general safety precautions are observed when carrying out the isolations.

General safety precautions are:

• Correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn.

• Work together with Shift Authority.
• Make sure that any equipment to be isolated is at a stop.
• Check scope of work on equipment to be isolated: if equipment removal is
contemplated, cables must be disconnected at concerned equipment and cable ends
taped to prevent damage to connections or moisture ingress.
• Apply safety padlocks where necessary to ensure proper isolation.
• Log safety padlock numbers and document numbers in the sub-station Log Book

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provided for this purpose.

• As safety padlocks have a unique key, they must be stored in the sub-station key-safe
to avoid risk of loss.
• Provide, wherever necessary, a multi-locking device to allow for fitting of several
padlocks.
• Demonstrate to Shift Authority and to Working Party (if present) that equipment will
not / cannot start under any conditions or circumstances.

4.3 MV Equipment Isolation

4.3.1 Motor Feeders
There are two types of MV motor feeders:

• 6kV motors fed from 6 kV switchboards through contactor and HRC fuses.
• 6kV motors fed from 6 kV switchboards through circuit breaker.
• 11kV motors fed from 11 kV switchboards through circuit breaker.

Depending on the work to be done on equipment, isolation may consist only of locking-off
the main control device. If any work is required on conductive parts however, earthing of MV
cables is mandatory in addition to locking-off.

Control device locking-off consists of racking out the withdraw able breaker in order to
separate it from bars, although not necessarily removing it from the cubicle, and fitting safety
padlock(s) at appropriate location(s) in such a way that racking-in is impossible without
removing the safety padlock.

Locking-off isolation is only performed by Senior Authorized Electrical Person (SAEP).

Earthing of MV cables is achieved by closing the earth-switch associated with the circuit
breaker / contactor and locking-off in the closed position with a safety padlock.

This type of isolation (locking-off and earthing) is performed by Senior Authorized Electrical
Person (SAEP) who issues a Complementary Electrical Work Permit describing the work to
be done by electrical personnel on conducting parts.

If work by electrical personnel is to disconnect the motor to allow removal by others

(mechanical engineers, for example), this is part of the preparatory work and must be done
before issue of the Main Permit to Work.

In some cases the works to be done on such feeders may be performed by electricians. In
these cases the Main Permit to Work may be issued by the Shift Authority before effective

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electrical isolation is done but equipment must be at stop.

In these situations, the Authorized Electrical Person performs what is called an “Own
Isolation”. This differs from the normal procedure in that a Complementary Electrical Permit
to Work is not needed. The scope of work is instead described on the Main Permit to Work
and the Authorized Electrical Person is responsible for safety of personnel working under his
directions and the equipment to be worked on.

4.3.2 Distribution Transformer Feeders

There is five types of distribution transformers:

• 6kV to 400 V
• 33KV to 6kv
• 33kv to 11kv
• 133 to 33kv
• 33kv to 400V

These transforms differ in that the secondary sides of the latter ones are not provided with
earthing facility at switchboard level.

Before isolation is performed, all require that some switching is done to ensure that the bus
bars they are supplying are fed from another source.

All switchboards are equipped with a bus-tie circuit breaker which must be closed before
opening the feeder / incomer to be worked on.

For this operation, the Shift Authority or Working Party (if a Permit to Work is issued) must
ensure that any switching is done from the PDCS console located in CCR (Control Center
Room) before effective isolation is started thus avoiding disturbance to running equipment.

Primary circuit breaker is also to be opened from PDCS console after the source change.

Every change in breaker position must be confirmed by radio or telephone from the
concerned locations to PDCS Console Operator.

Once this is done, the following actions may be performed at the concerned switchboards:

• Racking out of circuit breakers.

• Closure of earthing switches (on 6 KV switchboards only).
• Fitting of safety padlocks.

For 6 kV transformers, access to terminals is only possible if the appropriate keys are

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retrieved from switchboards (keys are free when earthing switch is closed).

The same applies for 6 kV to 400 V transformers, but on the low voltage side. The key is free
when the circuit breaker is racked out as there is no earthing mechanism.
This type of isolation must be performed under the supervision of a Senior Authorized
Electrical Person.

Similarly for motors, if working on conducting parts to allow others to work, the Senior
Authorized Electrical Person must issue a complementary Electrical Permit to Work to
describe the scope of work by electricians. This is part of the Main Permit to Work
preparatory works.

When work is to be done by electricians on the “Own Isolation” basis, the work may start
under the responsibility and supervision of a Senior Authorized Electrical Person (or his
delegate who cannot be less than an Authorized Electrical Person) until all works on isolated
equipment are complete. Restoration to a live condition must be under the supervision of a
Senior Authorized Electrical Person.

4.3.3 Generators
There is two types of generators: Diesel engine-driven 6KV, 400v

In order to allow safe work on packages, isolations are made at following locations:

• Electrical switchboard where power lines are connected in SS-1

• Generator UCP where excitation controls output is located.
• Diesel oil supply line (Mechanical / Process isolations).
• Auxiliary package switchboard (depending on scope of works).
• Starting systems (Mechanical / Process and / or Electrical Isolation).

Similarly as for previous equipment, preparatory works start by bringing the machine off-line
and control of main circuit breakers is to be done from PMS console.

Electrical isolations may be of the simple lock-off type when work does not involve
conductive parts, otherwise earthing must be done at switchboards and at generator
terminals for main generators.

Package-dedicated switchboards may also need to be isolated at incomers.

In all cases there must be the same number of Isolation Certificates as items of equipment.

Isolations must be performed under the supervision of a Senior Authorized Electrical Person.

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4.3.4 Switchboards (bulbar)

All High And MV switchboards132, 6,11,33 kV are composed of two bus bars, A and B,
which can be interconnected by means of a bus-tie circuit breaker.

Isolation of bus bars is strictly electricians’ work but, as this may have consequences on
running plant; preparatory works are of prime importance to ensure a minimum of
disturbance to running equipment.

Such works should not take place more than once in every three to five years and should
ideally be planned during an area shutdown although this may not always be possible.

This procedure considers this last case scenario, i.e., outwit an area shutdown period.

This type of isolation must be performed under the supervision of a Senior Authorized
Electrical Person after development of a detailed Procedure agreed by the Process / Utility /
Shift Superintendents.

This Procedure must highlight:

• Actions by Operators to put the plant in a safe running condition.

• Possible risks and hazards.
• Back-up solutions in the event of a failure.

Main actions and responsibilities to complete preparatory work and begin maintenance work
are shown in the following Table:

RESPONSIBILITY /
ACTIONS
LOCATION
All preparatory works. Operators
Switching (to ensure that all switchboards depending on bus to be
isolated) are fed by alternate source. PMS console
Switchboard location
Position change-over enable / disable control switch to OFF position. electrician
Open primary circuit breaker of transformer supplying the bus bars to
be worked on. Bulbar is now de-energized. PMS console

Every circuit breaker movement must be confirmed by radio or

PMS console operator
telephone.

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All circuit breakers and contactors must be removed from cubicle

(including bus-tie breaker).
Shutters at bus-tie breaker compartment must be locked with safety
padlock.
Certain keys must be retrieved to allow earthing of bus bars. A detailed
procedure per switchboard will be developed later to consider specifics
and key numbers of each switchboard.

4.4 LV Equipment Isolation

4.4.1 Motor Feeders
At this voltage level (400 V) isolation consists only of locking-off the main control device.

Control device locking-off consists of racking out breaker and applying safety padlock(s) at
appropriate location(s) in such a way that racking-in is impossible without removing the
safety padlock.

This type of isolation (locking-off) is only performed by a Competent Electrical Person.

If the scope of work of a Main Permit to Work involves removal of the motor from site, then
the preparatory work must also include disconnection of cables at the motor. This fact must
be clearly mentioned on the Isolation Certificate.

4.4.2 Distribution Transformer Feeders

As there is no possibility of “back feed”, isolation of LV distribution transformers is carried out
in the same way, and by the same Authorized Electrical Person, as the motor feeders.

4.4.3 Switchboards
There are three types of switchboards:

• Switchboards comprising two bus bars and a bus-tie circuit breaker.

• Switchboards with only one bus bar and double feed.
• Switchboards with only one bus bar and single feed.

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SWITCHBOARD TYPE DETAILS

Two bus bars and bus-tie circuit
breaker
Single bus bar and double feed
Single bus bar and single feed
These are isolated using the same principles
as MV switchboards (refer 4.3.4) but
earthing of bus bars is performed using
approved portable earthing devices made of
flexible cables ending with C clamp type
connectors. Such isolations are performed
under the supervision of an Authorized
Electrical Person.
As above except that there is no bus-tie
circuit breaker.
As for motor feeders (refer 4.4.1).

4.4.4 UPS
In principle, UPS systems (whether DC or AC) are critical items that cannot be isolated
entirely. Maintenance teams may only begin work after preparation of concerned area is
completed under the supervision of an Authorized Electrical Person and proper Limitation of
Access (LOA) is documented. Because of the presence of batteries in these UPS systems,
it is possible to be exposed to contact with voltages that are hazardous to the human body.

4.4.5 Distribution Boards

Small power distribution boards can be isolated as for motor feeders (refer to 3.4.1) when it
is necessary to work on common bars or wiring.

Isolation of individual out goers from such switchboards by use of safety padlock will also
need a suitable locking device fitting to concerned circuit breakers to prevent accidental
closure.

As with UPS units, shutdown of associated distribution boards may not be possible without a
major upset to the running plant. Maintenance works may have to be done in live conditions,
in which case a Limitation of Access (LOA) Certificate must be prepared and documented
before starting work.

If a shutdown is unavoidable, a procedure detailing other disciplines specific works requires

to be prepared and agreed before the shutdown can take place.

4.5 LTI

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If isolation must be remained for long time according some major problem such as some part
broken and lack of spare part and so on the main permit to work can be cancelled by
mention that work has been suspended and electrical isolation complementary permit will
remain in system but must changed to LTI (Long Time Isolation) and must record in Log
Book.

4.6 OWN Isolation

Refer to the associated Procedure elect safety rules ……, Article 3.1.8.2.

4.7 De-Isolation
De-Isolation is the reverse process of Isolation and consists of:

• Removing all safety padlocks and keys.

• Restoring all open and racked-out, or closed (earth switches), switching devices to
working order.
• Canceling / closing all documents.
• Updating log books etc.

This process can take place only when Working Party has declared the work is complete or if
requested to do so by Shift Authority.

Responsible Persons are the same as for Isolation.

Main Permits to Work are cancelled by Shift Authority only after running tests have been
successfully conducted.

If running tests are not conclusive, and it is not possible to complete trouble-shooting or
repair work on the spot, Isolations must be re-instated as they were originally and new
documentation must be prepared.

5.0 References
• Process and Mechanical Isolations, TOT-1718-999-9020-0018.
• Electrical Safety Rules, TOT-1718-999-9020-0015
• Permit to Work Procedure, TOT-1718-999-9020-0013
Total South Pars Gas Field Development Phases 2&3, Electrical

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